Amsterdam AAC1 v Haagsche RC2. Last weekend 29′C this weekend I think 9′C, 20 degree variation, what a difference a week makes. Anyway s*** weather means bad photos, so quality down somewhat, but the try quality was up with some nice try’s from Amsterdam.

Rugby World cup fever grips the Netherlands. Around 60 players from Den Haagsche youth teams got together and performed a frighting Haka on the first day-of-play of the Dutch Premier league for the 2011-2012 season.

With so much new blood boiling in the background, Den Haag RC should have no problems staying in the premier league for years to come.

The 12th Haagsche Rugby Dagen (Hague Rugby Days) took place at the HRC over the weekend. This 3 day tournament has become the traditional kick-off to signal the start of new Rugby season in the Netherlands. This year the tournament was opened by Willem de Jong the new chairman of the NRB (Nederlandse Rugby Bond / Dutch Rugby Board).

On the team front Lille Metropole RC (France) returned to defend their win from last year, and given their strength and speed they had no major problem in retaining the trophy. The other teams in the men’s main event whom Lille were up against were Slavia Prague (Czech Republic), the Dukes and of course Haagsche RC. These games were played off on the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

The Saturday was a full day of rugby, starting with the Oude Dutch Masters who gave the crowd three hours of good rugby nearly all of which was played in driving rain, well it is August, what do you expect sunshine. The Dukes then took on the Dutch Rugby Academy, and the ladies performed well in a knockout competition between TU Delft, Utrechtse RC and Diok RC. The day was concluded with a full match between HRC 2/3 and the Rotterdamse Studenten RC.